It’s likely that your home is filled with various surfaces, some of which you probably take great pains to keep looking nice. But, as many of us have likely found out, all it takes is one wrong move to scratch them up pretty good.

Luckily, it only takes a quick DIY to solve each surface conundrum! Whether it be wood, glass, marble or leather here’s a quick fix for any scratched surface you might come across.

1. Eyeglass Lenses

Scratches on your glasses (although a fun rhyme) are incredibly annoying since, you know, you need them to see. But the solution is actually a quick, cheap buffer that’s about to be your new go-to solution: toothpaste.

Opt for a toothpaste that’s non-abrasive and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals for whitening. Then, with a cotton ball or soft cloth, rub toothpaste on the lens in a circular motion. Do so for about 10 seconds and then rinse with cool water. More than one application may be required for deeper scratches.

2. China Plateware

There’s nothing more annoying than pulling out your fine china, just to find your only fancy plates scratched up. Ugh. Above is a brief tutorial from Simplemost, which will show you how to make your plates look good-as-new with just a few ingredients.

3. Car Paint

Sure, your car might not be something IN your home, but it’s something that gets scratched up more than almost anything else. But before you run out to spend hundreds (or thousands, depending on how bad the damage is) at an auto body place, try this DIY tutorial from Chris Fix.

All you’ll need is soapy water, car wax, tape, and sandpaper.

4. Patent Leather Shoes

You’re heading out for a night on the town, you pull out your dancing shoes – and you stop in your tracks when you see a huge scratch on the patent leather. Don’t waste time planning another outfit!

Instead, try this hack: rub a little Vaseline on the scuff/scratch with a Q-Tip until it starts to fill in. They’ll look like brand new kick after just a mintue or so!

5. Phone Screen

Anyone who owns a smartphone knows that terrible feeling of looking at your phone…and seeing a horrible scratch on the screen. Save your panicking and instead grab yourself some toothpaste! Rub toothpaste onto the phone crack with a cotton ball for about 10 minutes and it should help to repair the scratch.

If you don’t have toothpaste on hand, try baking soda or vegetable oil for the same purpose.

6. Leather Couches/Shoes

Leather is a beautiful material for clothing and furniture, but it’s extremely delicate when it comes up against potential scratches. (Anyone who dares have a leather couch and a dog at the same time will know this struggle.)

Try taking some vegetable or baby oil, and applying it to the scratched surface using a cotton swab. Rub the oil into the surface in circular motions, and then allow it to dry. Wipe the oil residues with a clean cloth. If necessary, repeat the procedure.

Nail polish, as well as specialized leather wax, can also help fix the problem.

7. Plastic Surfaces

Did someone throw their feet up onto your car’s dashboard, scratching the plastic surface with their shoes in the process? After you’re done telling them off, go back inside and grab a regular old blow dryer to fix that scratch right up.

Set the blow dryer to minimal power and direct the stream of hot air along the length of the scratch. If necessary, increase the temperature until the marks begin to disappear. Wait 10-15 minutes, then rub down the surface with some car polish to render the scratches totally invisible.

8. Marble Surfaces

If you have marble countertops (or maybe marble floors or walls, if you’re really fancy) seeing a scratch on this gorgeous, expensive surface can be painful to see. Rather than replace the surface itself or ignore the problem, use this really simple tutorial to get the scratch out in no time at all!

9. Wooden Surfaces

One of the most popular surfaces in any home is likely wood…which means it’s one of the scratches you’re most likely to come across. But whether it’s a tabletop or hardwood floor, there’s a surprisingly simple solution: a walnut kernel.

Try rubbing half a walnut shell (or a pecan, if you don’t have any walnuts) over the scratch on a wooden surface. Then prepare to watch in awe as the “gap” in the surface is filled right in with the “meat” of the shell!

If that doesn’t work, try using diluted iodine or even mayonnaise to fix any wooden cracks.

 

Do you know any quick tricks to save scratched surfaces? Have you had any lucks with the tricks and tips listed above? Make sure to share your thoughts and any go-to tips you have!